Leading article: The spirit level
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Do monks have a sense of humour? The behaviour of the Capuchin friars of Switzerland seems to suggest so. They have placed an advert for recruits in a local magazine with this tantalising job description: "We offer you no pay but spirituality and prayer, contemplation, an egalitarian lifestyle, free of personal material riches".
That would be a striking advert anywhere. But the even more remarkable thing is that the Capuchins chose to place it in the "banking and insurance" section of the magazine. A less monk-like readership it would be difficult to imagine.
But perhaps the monks are serious. The New Testament is replete with attempts to convert the wealthy to a more spiritual life: "The love of money is a root of all evil... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God... Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Jesus threw the money-changers out of the temple, but the Church has also been attempting to convert them for 2,000 years.
So what we have here is our old friend: traditional values in a modern setting. With savvy like that, who would bet against the Capuchins surviving for another 490 years?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments